Subscribe to Updates in Healthcare

RSS By Email

RSS By RSS

Add to Google Reader or Homepage

Subscribe in Bloglines


The Expertise Imperative and Compliance Technology
Access to a diverse array of specialized expert inputs drives superior decisions in every organizational context: within corporations, by investors and consultancies, and within nonprofits. When decision makers are confident of their decision inputs, they can respond more quickly and creatively to challenges and opportunities.Learn more about GLG's Compliance Framework


This page may include content provided by Council Members, your access to which is subject to the Terms of Use.
Find Out More

December 17, 2007

The bar is raised for starting antibiotics or steroids

Analysis of: Antibiotics and Topical Nasal Steroid for Treatment of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis | jama.ama-assn.org
This analysis is solely the work of the author. It has not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
Analysis By:
Peter Bornstein, MD, PartnerPeter Bornstein, MD
Partner, St. Paul Infectious Disease Associates, Ltd
Implications: The lack of improvement with use of antibiotics or steroids will make primary care providers less likely to prescribe these agents.  However, they will have to spend significant time explaining to patients why they have changed their practice.

Analysis: Acute sinusitis is a poorly-understood condition.  While presenting symptoms are typically headache, fever and possibly nasal drainage, the role of antibiotics vs placebo has not been well-researched.

This study presents compelling evidence that neither antibiotics, nor steroids, are helpful for most patients presenting with these symptoms.  However, many primary care providers feel pressured to "do something" for these patients, as mere reassurance is often unwelcome.

Given the general trend to decrease use of antibiotics, it is likely that this study will have somewhat more utility in reducing antibiotic use than steroid use, as nasal steroids are generally felt to be benign when used for short periods.

Other Analyses of the Same Source Article:
So what is new?
December 17, 2007, Author: GLG Expert Contributor
Treatment of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis - Antibiotics and Topical Nasal Steroid
December 12, 2007, Author: GLG Expert Contributor
A strange study
December 10, 2007, Author: GLG Expert Contributor
Different Spin On Same Story
December 7, 2007, Author: GLG Expert Contributor
Intriguing, but not really relevant
December 6, 2007, Author: GLG Expert Contributor

Report a Concern

More GLG News in
Healthcare

Most Popular:
Source Article | Expert Analyses
 

GLG News: What Experts Think Is Important





Analytics


Generated at 2008-12-01T21:45:56.203